Dual load and unload chute device



Sept. 1, 1953 R MacKAY 2,650,729

DUAL LOAD AND UNLOAD CHUTE DEVICE Filed Aug. 25, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet l F/omw 7 mcx AY,

INVENTOR.

1'1 6. Z. cg

ATTORNEY.

L 3 R. T. M KAY ,6

DUAL LOAD AND UNLOAD CHUTE DEVICE Filed Aug. 25, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 78/0/1420 7. MACK/1y, A INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

FIG. 4.

Sept. 1, 1953 R, MacKAY 2,650,729

DUAL LOAD AND UNLOAD CHUTE DEVICE Filed Aug. 25, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 mvsm'on.

ATTORNEY.

E/c/m ED Patented Sept. 1, 1953 DUAL LOAD AND UNLOAD CHUTE DEVICE Richard T. MacKay, Hollis, N. Y., assignor to The Peelle Company, Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 25, 1951, Serial No. 243,717

' 4 Claims. 1

Broadly speaking, the present invention relates to chute load and unload devices used particularly in conjunction with elevators which travel vertically within enclosed shafts. The devices are more specifically designed to be used in connection with dumbwaiter shafts in such buildings as hospitals where it is necessary to distribute medical supplies from a stock to various floors. In order to accomplish the distribution of medical or other supplies to the various floors, the dumbwaiter car is provided with a tiltable basket or tray which is normally adapted to be loaded with supplies at the stock room floor level. Elevator control buttons are provided at the stock room floor level whereby the movement of the elevator car is controlled. Also, the tiltable action of the tray is controlled from the stock room floor through electrical connections. In the use of the device, the tray is loaded with supplies at the stock room floor, after which the dispatcher pushes the respective button for the desired floor. When the car reaches the selected floor, the car is stopped by means of suitable limit switches. After the car is stopped, the unloading of the tray is accomplished through the means of electrical control buttons located at the loading floor. The unloading action of the tray causes the tray to be tilted to a position permitting the contents thereof to slide from the tray. The tray is preferably in the form of a chute and open at the end nearest the floor opening and with the farthest end thereof being closed.

The present invention does not involve the elevator car or the tiltable tray positioned therein, or the electrical control circuit thereof, but rather includes closures at each of the openings except the loading or stock room opening.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of closures which are adapted to effectively close on the floors from the elevator shaft from fire hazards and to provide extension chutes to carry supplies from and to the tiltable tray at each of the floors.

Another object is the provision of load and unload chutes rigidly positioned in and forming a part of each of the closures with hinged flaps or doors being located within the chutes and normally preventing the passage of drafts or flames therethrough.

A further object is the provision of means in connection with the hinged flaps or doors whereby the same are actuated by means of retiring cams located on and carried by the elevator car.

Other particular objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the course of the following description, and that which is new will be pointed out in the appended claims.

The preferred and most satisfactory manner of carrying out the principles of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a floor side elevation of one of the closures embodying the principles of the invention.

Figure 2 is a shaft side elevation of the device. Figure 3 is a vertical section taken through the device on line 3--3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail vertical section taken through the device on line 44 of Figure 2 and showing the flap-operating linkages, with the same being shown in the position assumed while the flaps are in closed position within the chutes.

Figure 5 is a detail section-elevation showing the position assumed by the flap-operating linkage of the load chute while the flap is in open position and permitting loading of the car tray from the floor level.

Figure 6 is a detail section-elevation showing the position assumed by the flap-operating linkage of the unload chute with the flap being in open position.

Figure 7 is a detail plan section, taken on line 1-1 of Figure 4, showing the load flap and its linkage, and with the flap being shown in closed position.

Figure 8 is a detail plan section, taken on line 8-8 of Figure 4, showing the unload flap and its linkage, and with the flap being shown in closed position.

Like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views.

In order that the construction of the device and the advantages thereof may be more fully understood and appreciated, I will now take up a detailed description thereof, in which the same will be more fully set forth.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, letter A designates the wall construction. Numerals I designate a closure frame member which is normally built in the wall construction and which provides a frame in which panels and chutes are positioned. 2 designates panels which are preferably of fire-resisting material and which are covered by a metal sheath, and with the same being secured in frame I by means of angle frame members 3.

Panels 2 and angle frame members 3 are so arranged to fit snugly around load chute 4 and unload chute 5. The load and unload chutes 4 and i are preferably formed of metal sheets hav- .rigidly secured thereto.

ing sufficient rigidity to be self supporting when secured in place.

It will be noted, by referring to the various figures of the drawings, that load chute 4 slopes downwardly from the room side to the shaft side, and that unload chute 5 slopes upwardly from the room side to the shaft side. The shaft side of the load chuteis positioned so as to be in register 'with the normal position of the tray carried by the elevator car. The shaft end of the unload chute is positioned so as to be in register with the tilted position of the tray carried by the elevator car.

Numeral 6 designates a pivoted .or.hinged flap member adapted to normallyclosetthe loadchute against drafts and flame. Flap 6 is pivoted at the ends of its upper edge by means of shaft 1 at one end and at the opposite 'end'by means of shaft 8. The flap is journalled on shaft .1 for free movement while shaft 8 is rigidly secured to the flap and with shaft 8 providing means through which the flap .is actuated to open position.

The load flap 6 is operatedfrom. its normally closed position to its open position ,by means of a retiring cam member (shown in broken lines in Figures 4, 5 and 7) which is secured .to and carried by the elevator car .(notshown) through linkage 9, and with the retiring cam member being adapted to engage roller 10 .of the linkage. One end of linkage 9 is journalledonshaft H which is provided with asuitable support l2 and which support is rigidly secured to the sides of chutes 4 and 5. The opposite end of linkage 9 is rigidly secured on shaft 8 which provides means for transferring the motion of the linkage to flap 8. A stop member [3 issecured on support 12 and provides means limiting the motion of linkage 9 in its normal position. .It will also be noted, by referring to Figures .3, land 5 that a recessed portion I4 is formed across the bottom of load chute 4 and provides astop for the lower edge of iiap 6. It will be noted that action of the cam member against roller I causes movement of the roller and the linkage away from the elevator car (not shown) and provides opening movement to flap 6 by means ofshaftB being lFlap 6 is adapted to close by gravity uponretraction of the cam member from its extended position.

Unload flap member I is pivotally supported on a pair of shafts 26, one of which is located at each end of the upper edge thereof. Flap I5 is operated from its normally closed position to its open position by means of shaft or pin ll which forms a part of operating linkagelB. v'Pin l'l extends through arcuate slot 19 which is formed through the adjacent side of chute 5 with its .end being secured intoflap l5. Linkage I8 is pivotally secured at one end thereof on a shaft l6 and with the other end being journalled on shaft 2i which issecured .into support [2. A cam-engaging roller .22 is interposed in linkage I8 and provides means actuating the linkage upon operation of the respective .cam member.

The cam member v(shown in broken lines in Figures 4, 6 and 8) is a portion of a retiring :cam mounted on and carried by the elevator car, and is adapted to engage roller 22 when in extended position and to operate linkage l8 and flap .l5

.is tilted by means of electrical control by the dispatcher to register with the unload chute at which time the respective retiring cam carried by the car is actuated and with the same operating the-linkage l8 and swinging flap [5 to its open position whereupon the contents of the tray are dispensed through chute 5 onto a table or a suitable-container (not shown) at that floor. After the contents have been thus unloaded from the tray, thecam member is retarded and the tray again assumes its normal position in register with the load chute 4, and with the unload flap returning to its normally closed positionby means of gravity. Should it then be desiredto load articles'from the floor onto the ele- 'vator tray, the respective retiringcam is actuated by the .dispatcher, and with the action of the cam member against roller I'll actuating the load flap to its open position .and permitting articles to pass down chute 4 to the elevator tray, after which the camis retarded and permitting load flap '6 to assume its closed position by means of gravity.

'It will also vbe notedthat a micro switch 24 is provided for interlocking the elevator circuit with load flap 6. The switch provides means breaking the elevator running circuit while the load flap 6 is in opened or partially opened position and prevents. movement of the elevator car until the flap isagainin its closed position.

It is desired that it be understood that, while the preferred manner of construction and op- 'eration has been shown and described, I am not to be limited to the exact construction and operation shown and described, but that minor changes may be made therein, insofar as the changes may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim,'is:

'1. "In a dual load and unload chute device, a

pair of oppositely-sloping chutes positioned within a common frame with one end of each of said chutes extending into an adjacent elevator shaft and with the opposite'ends of said chutes extending into a room area, a hinged flap fire stop located in each of the chutes, a linkage connected with and adapted to open each of the flaps, with each of the linkages being operable by means of a respective retiring cam located on and carried by an elevator car, and with each of the linkages being mounted on the frame adjacent its respective chute.

.2. A dual load and unload chute device comprising a common frame member with a load chute and an unload chute positioned therein, with the inner end of each of the chutes extending into an elevator shaft and terminating adja'cent to the vertical travel of an elevator car located within the shaft, with the outer end of the load chute being at a higher level than the inner end thereof and with the outer end of the unload chute being disposed at a lower level than the inner end thereof, a hinged flap fire stop member located within each of the chutes and adapted to close .the same, means operating the hinged flap members from their closed positions to their open positions, and with the flap operat- 5 ing means being pivotally secured to the common frame with each being adjacent its respective hinged flap.

3. In a dual load and unload chute device, a load chute and an unload chute disposed in a frame, said load chute having its inner end in communicating relation with a vertically movable elevator car and with the opposite end thereof extending into a room area and located at a higher point than the inner end and providing means through which articles may be loaded onto the elevator car, a hinged flap positioned within the load chute, means swingably moving the hinged flap from its normally closed position to an open position, said unload chute having its inner end in communicating relation with the vertically movable elevator car and with the opposite end of the unload chute extendin into a room area and located at a lower level than the inner end, a hinged flap member located within the chute and adapted to normally close the same, and means operating the flap member from its normally closed position to an open position.

4. In combination with an elevator shaft having a vertically moving elevator car therein, a closure comprising a common frame and forming a part of the elevator shaft walls, said closure having a load chute and an unload chute located therein, with the load chute sloping downwardly toward the elevator shaft and with the unload chute sloping upwardly toward the elevator shaft, a hinged flap member forming a fire stop is located within each of said chutes, with each hinged flap member having a respective operating device connected therewith, with the operating devices providing means opening the respective flap members, and with each of the operating devices being pivotally secured to the common frame adjacent its respective hinged flap member.

RICHARD T. MACKAY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 258,668 Paine May 30, 1882 503,326 Mock Aug. 15, 1893 571,389 Pancoast Nov. 17, 1896 939,690 Hofmeyer Nov. 9, 1909 992,910 Schwab May 23, 1911 1,555,355 Charette Sept. 29, 1925 1,583,734 Norrell May 4, 1926 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 478,749 Germany July 5, 1929 349,298 Great Britain May 28, 1931 473,599 Great Britain Oct, 11, 1937 

